President Park Geun-hye and visiting President Almazbek Atambaev of the Kyrgyz Republic held summit talks Tuesday and agreed to bolster bilateral exchanges in energy and trade, and support enhanced regional ties among Eurasian countries.

Atambaev is the first Central Asian head of state to visit the Park administration, which is a boost for Seoul’s drive to implement a Eurasia initiative by creating a logistics chain from Busan to Europe through Central Asian countries, China and Russia, Cheong Wa Dae said.

“Our government is promoting Eurasian cooperation as an important administrative task, and I believe today’s summit talks will provide a crucial opportunity for the development of bilateral relations,” Park told Atambaev.

Park also welcomed Atambaev’s second visit to Seoul in 16 years and praised Kyrgyzstan’s efforts toward democratization.

Atambaev, in response, said Korea was an important model of freedom and democracy for Kyrgyzstan and called for Korea’s support in establishing an advanced election and ballot management system.

At the summit, Park and Atambaev oversaw the signing of a pact for a grant that will include inviting Kyrgyz trainees here and dispatching experts and volunteer groups to Kyrgyzstan along with provision of equipment and materials for aid projects. South Korea has provided an accumulated $22 million in aid to Kyrgyzstan since 1987.

In return, Kyrgyzstan will provide privileges and exemptions from various regulations for government officials, their families and members of the Korea International Cooperation Agency office to carry out their duties.

Personnel exchanges between the two countries have grown since diplomatic ties were forged in 1992, with the number of South Koreans living in Kyrgyzstan reaching 1,175 as of 2012. A total of 2,688 Kyrgyz live in Korea as of 2011.

Other various memorandums of understanding were sealed, including ones on mutual recognition of drivers’ licenses, and fortified cooperation in fossil fuels, natural resources, water power and renewable energy.

At the talks, the two leaders also shared views on broadening exchanges in agriculture, with Korea providing support in modernizing the faming sector.

Park expressed gratitude for Kyrgyzstan’s constant support of South Korea in dealing with North Korea, such as by releasing a statement denouncing Pyongyang’s nuclear test earlier this year.

Park also emphasized the importance of Kyrgyzstan’s role in strengthening Eurasian cooperation.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)